Old foe Mulvaney returns to challenge Dyer for mayor

The Orlando election is about to be turned on its ear: Businessman Ken Mulvaney told the Orlando Sentinel he will file papers Friday to run against his old political nemesis, Mayor Buddy Dyer.

Mulvaney finished second to Dyer in 2004 and 2008, but he said the mayor's popularity has waned and voters are ready for a change.

"Mayor Dyer's a career politician. I've always believed in term limits," he said. "He's been there almost 10 years now. It's a bit too long."

Dyer already had two opponents: Commissioner Phil Diamond and community activist Mike Cantone. But Mulvaney's appearance adds a new wrinkle.

Mulvaney sued to overturn the 2004 election results. Though unsuccessful, the lawsuit alleging improper collection of absentee ballots sparked a state criminal investigation that resulted in Dyer's arrest. The prosecutor eventually dropped the charges, and Dyer was cleared of wrongdoing, but not before he was suspended from office for more than a month.

Dyer, 53, said he would not comment until Mulvaney files the paperwork necessary to earn a spot on the ballot. The deadline to file for the nonpartisan election on April 3 is noon Friday.

"I'm not going to comment on anybody who's not yet in the race," said Dyer, who is opening his campaign headquarters Friday.

Mulvaney, 51, has owned various enterprises in Orlando, including a popular Irish pub and a stainless steel manufacturing business. Now, he manages his commercial real estate holdings.

He said he decided to run again because of rumors that Dyer — even if re-elected to a third four-year term — will run for governor in 2014.

"I personally think we need somebody who's going to commit to the city for four years," Mulvaney said.

Cantone has raised the same issue, even pushing Dyer to sign a pledge to serve a full term if re-elected. Dyer has ignored his opponent but told the Sentinel he plans to serve four years.

It's unclear how Mulvaney will affect the other candidates.

Like Dyer, Diamond is a Democrat. But on the City Council he has built a history of fiscal conservatism and often been the lone commissioner to vote against Dyer's initiatives.

Diamond could end up fighting with Mulvaney, a Republican, for the same pool of right-leaning voters.

But Diamond said he isn't concentrating on any single voting bloc.

"I'm focused on trying to reach out to every citizen of Orlando," Diamond said. "I'm running because I feel like Buddy Dyer has neglected our neighborhoods, favored his connected friends and poured too many of our resources into special-interest downtown projects."

Cantone, 28, said Dyer, Diamond and Mulvaney all represent the status quo.

"In the end, three old white men are not going to bring the change that Orlando needs," he said. "You're going to see the three of them fight over the same small group of voters."

Regardless, the addition of a fourth candidate makes it more likely that none will earn more than 50 percent of the vote on April 3, forcing a runoff election between the top two.